Alcohol and Ketosis

welshyshelly

Full Member
Just seen this on another thread..thought it might be interesting to some of you.

DO NOT DRINK ALCOHOL IF YOU ARE KETOTIC!

Alcohol is a powerful inhibitor of gluconeogenesis. In fact, it forces part of the gluconeogenic metabolic process into reverse. This means that if all the glucose in the blood is being derived from gluconeogenesis then the consumption of alcohol will inevitably cause the blood glucose level to fall. Worse still, the alcohol also stops ketone body production, thus leaving the brain entirely without fuel.
A person who is ketotic is 100% reliant on gluconeogenesis to maintain adequate levels of glucose in the blood. If, under these circumstances alcohol is taken, the person will become disorientated and might lose consciousness, not just from the alcohol, but from low blood sugar. Needless to say, this could be very dangerous, and even fatal.
Alcohol does not have these effects if the glycogen stores in the liver are normal. Under these circumstances the blood glucose level in the blood is maintained by the breakdown of liver glycogen, a process that is not influenced by alcohol. If a person becomes confused under these circumstances it is due simply to the pharmacological effects of the alcohol!
 
Wow thats scary. What I dont quite understand is on Atkins you were allowed it and that worked by ketosis!!
 
Pretty scary. I was talking to someone who thought it would be really dangerous to drink when in ketosis, as your liver was working in a different way than usual.
Am glad I haven't indulged in any, even though I miss it
 
Thats really scary!!!
 
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